Event Coverage

Comex 2012 - TVs & AV Products Buying Guide

By Team HardwareZone - 31 Aug 2012

Audio Visual - Philips

Home Theater Gallery

Comex 2012 is currently in full swing at the Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Center. On till the 2nd of September, the exhibition will span three floors (3, 4, and 6), and its doors will be open from 12pm to 9pm daily. In this segment, we highlight noteworthy items related to the Audio and Visual categories, consisting mainly of HDTVs, AV systems, projectors, media players, as well as headphones and sound docks. We hope you'll find them useful for your shopping sprees. 

Buying Guide Index
 

 

Comex 2012 Shopping Resources

Remember to check out the HardwareZone Tech Show Portal for the latest consolidated shopping resources and updates.

 

 

Buying Tips: Televisions & Home Entertainment Systems

There are many factors to consider before you procure a HDTV. Barely five years ago, picture quality was probably the only concern for buyers apart from the TV's aesthetics. These days, however, consumers have to contend with fancy enhancements like Connected TV, 3D TV, and all that jazz. Our advice? Decide on your requirements first. Fundamentals such as the TV's size should be considered before deliberating on the extra premium required for a 3D-capable or Smart TV model. Think about factors such as viewing distance and placement. Before you grab a Smart TV, ensure your home network is accessible to the TV (wired or wireless), else you might have to install network bridges or use a pair of powerline adapters in order to connect your TV to the router.

If you're planning for a 3D set, do note that there are two dominant technologies in the market - active and passive - each with its own set of pros and cons. Active-shutter proponents like Samsung and Sony have improved tremendously since 3D TVs were first launched three years ago. There's visibly lesser crosstalk with newer models, and stereoscopic depth have improved as well. However, active-shutter glasses are still reliant on a battery (rechargeable or not), and subtle flickering is still evident even with the room lights off. Passive ones like LG's Cinema 3D models are easier on the eyes, and they also provide excellent horizontal viewing angles. Then again, 'interlaced' lines become visible when viewed up close, and they also suffer from tighter vertical viewing angles. On the home theater front, purchasing a HTiB (Home Theater In A Box) is probably the easiest and cheapest way to go. Most of them are also equipped with a Blu-ray player and HD audio decoders. If you dislike the hassle of a 5.1-channel system, you can always opt for a simpler 2.1-channel setup like the one featured on the following page. 

For a more exhaustive buying guide on HDTVs, 3D TVs, and Smart TVs, kindly refer to our tech guides here:

 

Philips - Level 4, Booth 8410 (Audio House)

 

Philips 40-inch PFL5605 LED TV

This Full-HD model does not belong to this year's HDTV line-up, but fans of direct LED backlighting might still relish this sweet blast from the past. Tagged at only $599, Philips' 40-inch PFL5605 is going for less than half of its usual retail price at Comex. The former 5000 Series display carries a 100Hz panel, plus three HDMI ports for your AV peripherals.        

  • Comex Price: $599
  • Usual Price: $1,299

 



Philips BDP-3300K Blu-ray Player

Fancy a sleek Blu-ray deck for only $99? The Philips BDP-3300K offers 1080p playback plus it's DivX Plus HD certified as well, meaning this BD player has no qualms when it comes to decoding high-definition DivX files from your video collection. Besides support for Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Digital DTS 2.0, the BDP-3300K is also equipped with YouTube and Picasa apps for your surfing and viewing pleasure.        

  • Comex Price: $99
  • Usual Price: $159

 

Brochures
Click here for Philips AV brochures.
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